Rug



l Jan. `22, 1952 P, QrwAlTE 2,583,192

RUG

Filed Sept. 17, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

'ZM W@ Patented Jan. 22, 1952 RUG Philip C. Waite, Oshkosh; Wis., assignor to Waite Carpet Company, Oshkosh, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,280

(Cl. .2S-78) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a floor covering such as a rug. It will be convenient in the -ensuing description to use the term rug, with the understanding that it applies equally to oor or wall coverings of the same general character.

The rug chosen as an exemplication of this invention is of the so-called tufted variety. This comprises a backing, usually of canvas, to ywhich short lengths of yarn are anchored to stand out upon the face of the rug either in the form of loops or a pile. Such rugs have acquired a wide popularity at the present time, but are somewhat decient from the standpoint of appearance. The coloring possibilities, when the usual dyes are employed, are rather limited. Inaddition, such a rug, when produced from cotton yarn which is the most common, usually comes in plain colors. Any such rug will show footprints more readily, and is very susceptible to matting. Deficiencies such as these are eliminated in the present rug in which a subtle pattern may be produced to improve its appearance and to disguise in large part the matting or wear that is usually so'apparent in a plain, all-over color. The wearing and utility value of a rug produced according to this invention is accordingly enhanced because of its improved and different design or texture.

These and various other advantages and objects are realized in a rug constructed according to this invention of which one suggestive embodiment is illustrated y in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rug; and

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlargedfragmentary view in section, taken on line 2-2-of Fig. 1.

The rug herein shown combines a backing B of canvas or thek like with a plurality of tufts (either looped or out to provide a pile) that are stitched through the backing or otherwise secured thereto. The tufts are desirably, although not necessarily, arranged according to a denite pattern, the rug illustrated having the tufts disposedin rows extending parallel with one of its edges.

The tufts used in the present rug are made preferably of yarn, but of two types having unlike properties, viz.: those, designated as A, which are relatively absorptive of the dye used for coloring the rug, and those, designated as R, which are relatively non-absorptive of such dye and hereinafter sometimes referred to as resistant The tufts made from absorptive yarns, type A, may conveniently' be produced, in Whole or in large part, from cotton, whereas the resistant tufts may consist largely of acetate rayon yarns I mixed, as by twisting,'with viscose rayon yarns 2. In the pattern illustrated, the absorptive tufts occur in pairs, whereas the repellant tufts occur singly; the absorptive tufts in such an arrangement'accordingly predominate in a 2 to 1 ratio. This is one .of a number of ways of imparting to the face of the rug an attractive and distinctive appearance for reasons which will shortly be pointed out. J

The word rayon," as used herein, is the generic term for manufactured textile ber or yarn produced chemically from cellulose, or with a cellulose base, and for thread or strands made therefrom. Such fibers or yarns are made according to various processes, one being known as viscose and another as acetate. The viscose yarns are produced from filaments made of regenerated cellulose xanthate, whereas acetate yarns are produced from laments formed by a compound of cellulose and acetic acid which has been coagulated. A distinguishing and characteristic feature of the latter is its sheen or lustrous appearance; also one of its inherent properties is its resistance to, or non-absorptiveness of, dyes of the direct type which are commonly employed for the coloring of many fabrics, including rugs.

While it is possible to dye-treat the yarns before the rug is constructed, it is preferable from a manufacturing standpoint to do thisafter completion of the rug. At this time the rug is dipped or otherwise color-treated with dye of a desired color. In this operation the cotton and viscose yarns absorb the dye to the extent of being colored thereby; not so, however, the acetate rayon yarns which are relatively dye-resistant. As a result, when the dye treatment is completed, the effects upon the two types of yarn will be distinctly different. This is a feature of major importance in the production of the novel and attractive color effects which characterize this invention.

There are many optional variations in the construction of the rug, and also in the treatment of the yarns, which will still produce the novel visual effects that characterize the present rug. For example, in the illustrated construction the one set of tufts are made from viscose and acetate rayon yarns vtwisted together into one ply yarn. The tufts so produced have a very interesting color effect due to the fact that in places the dye has been absorbed to transfer its color to the yarn tufts, whereas in other places in the same tufts the dye has been resisted to the point of leaving intact the original lustrous color of the acetate rayon. By varying the proportions of the viscose and acetate rayon ln the mixture which goes into one type of tufts, the visual effect will be altered, and it is even possible to omit the viscose rayon altogether so that the yarns will consist entirely of acetate rayon whereby all the tufts made therefrom will be sharply different in appearance from the cotton tufts in the same rug. Likewise acetate needle tufting machine may be used. The. operations will then proceed the.. saine;V as with the,V

manufacture of any other tufted rug, and when completed the dying operation will produce the.

novel effects hereinbefore described. Any de"- sired pattern may be produced in the rug.v and.

the yarns going to make up the pattern will cornprise two types, absorptive and resistant, so that.

in the, resulting effect the lustre or sheen from theacetatey rayon yarns will 7stand out.. throughout the pattern. Y

The present rug is characterized, by a subtle pattern resulting from the presenceof` the spots or marks of lustre or sheen throughout the pattern. The. effect is entirely novel, and affects noticeably the design, or texture of the rug. The presence of the` acetate rayon along with other materials in the rug improves its texture because it tends to stand out by contrast in a way that, would' not be possible if only a single material or single type of materaL. such as cot ton or cotton and'. viscose rayon, werev used throughout.

` The presence of the acetaterayon, evenY though only in a small. amount, tends to minimize'l the appearance resulting from use of cotton as the major element of' the rug. TheI acetate rayon, when used in varying amounts, gives a distinctive design effect, it highlightsv the rug by its contracting lustre, it emphasizes thetexture, it eliminates matting, to a large extent, and', even where the amount' of acetate; rayon used is small in proportionito the cotton base, surprising Visual effects are achieved. Acetate rayonM should be regarded as an example of a dyerepellant materi'alV having an attractive appearance; lustrous o1" otherwise, that' is admirably suited foi use with the present rug. There may be a number of` other materials equally serviceable for the same purpose. Orion (a duV Pont synthetic product) iS-another-example, just to mention one more;

In the description throughout the specification, I havev referredV to cotton as the base material since it isone-of thebest known'k and most widely used in the construction of rugs. Itis to' be understood, however, thatr other materials,`

suchaswool orvarious combinations which might include even nylon; rayon, etc., come within thc purview of this invention, the gistI of which is the presence of a dye-resistant lustrous material comprised inA the vstrands which go to makeup the tuftsforming the over-all exposed surface ofthe work.

` Attached hereto, as Exhibit'A, is a small-sized specimen of rug embodyingthe novelfeatures of this invention.

I claim:

1'. A rug havingja backingwhereon are carried tufts of yarn of' two types, one mainly cotton and the other a mixture ofstrandsof viscose and acetate rayon twisted together into` a single. ply yarn, and both treated to a color` dye .which` is readily absorbedinto. the cotton tuftsV but re.- sisted by the acetate rayon strands of theother set of tufts, the color effects in thetwosetswf tuftsyaryingaccording't.theabsorptivetcapacity of the two types of treated yarns and the strands of the rayon acetate producing spots of luster or sheenv throughout the exposed face of the rug.

2. Arug'havingta backing whereonA are carried tufts of yarn of two types, one mainly cotton and the other a mixture of strands of viscose and acetate rayon twisted together into a single ply yarn, the cotton tufts being disposed in pairs andthefmixturefof,v strands of viscose and acetate. rayon being formed into single tufts located between the-pairs of cotton tufts, and both tufts treated to. a color dye which is readily absorbed into the cotton tufts but resisted by the acetate rayon, strands of the other set of tufts, the color effects in the two sets of tufts Varying according totthe vabsorptive capacity of the' two types of treated yarns.

l 3. A- rug having a backing whereon are carried tufts of yarn of two types, one mainly cotton andthe other amixture of strands of viscose and acetate rayon twisted together into a.v single plyfyarn., the cotton tufts being disposed in pairs and the mixture of strands of viscose and. acetate rayon being formed into single tuftsr located between the pairs of cottonL tufts, and' both tufts treated to a. color dye which is readily absorbed into` the cotton tufts-butresisted. by the acetate rayon. strands of the. other set of tufts, the color. effects in the two,v sets of tufts varying. according to the. absorptive capacity of the. two typesl of treated yarns andthe. strands of rayonacetate producing spots of .luster or sheen throughoutthe exposed face of the rug..

4.. A rug having4 a backing whereon are4 carried tufts of yarn.Y of two types, oney mainly cottonl and the other amixture of` strands of viscose and acetate rayon twisted together into a. single ply yarn, the cotton tufts being disposed inA pairs andthe mixtureof strandsk of viscose. and acetate rayon being formed: into single; tufts located betweenthe pairsof cotton tufts, and both tufts treated to-acolordye'whichis readily absorbed into the cotton tufts butresisted. by the; acetate rayon strands of. the outer set of tufts, the color effectsinthe twosetsl of tufts varying according tothe absorptive capacity of the. two, types of treated yarns andthe strandsY of rayon acetate producing spots of luster or sheen throughout the exposed` face. of therug producing a subtle pattern resulting from the presence of the lustrous spots and affectingv noticeably the design and texture of the rug.

PHILIP C. WAITE;

REFERENCES" CITEDY The following. references. are of record inthe leof this patent:

UNITED' STATES; PA'IENTS' Number. Name Date l,86,766 DeNiederhausern July 28,1931 1,978,786 Ellis Oct. 30', 1934 21,020,698' Platt Nov. 12, 1935 2,048,796l Kirk'etal July 28, 1936 2,143,574A Porter et al Jan. 10, 1939 2178344rv Ellis et al Nov. 7, 1939 12,7414n Masland', Jr Aug. 27', 1949 2,319,345 Wadely' et al May 4, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS- Number Country Date.

191,120 Great Britain J une8, 1922 313,992; Great Britain JuneA 21 1929 3165.982; Great Britain s- Aug. '12,1929 3233189 GreatfBr-.itairr Dec.. 23, 1929 '7l'1;,6i2; France: Dec: 13;` 1932 

